A point of sale system is more than a till. It becomes the record of every sale, every item in stock and every shilling that comes in. Choosing well saves hours each week; choosing badly means double entry and stock you can't trust.
Here are the questions we suggest every shop, restaurant or pharmacy owner asks before signing up.
1. Does it handle M-Pesa at the till?
Most customers pay by M-Pesa. If your cashier has to check a phone, type the code and then mark the sale paid, queues grow and mistakes creep in. Look for a system where the payment confirmation lands in the sale itself.
2. Will stock update with every sale and purchase?
Ask to see a sale reduce stock, a goods received note increase it, and a transfer move it between branches. If any of those steps needs a spreadsheet, the numbers will drift.
3. Can it grow to more branches?
Even if you have one outlet today, check that each branch can have its own stock and cashiers, and that you can see a combined view from your phone.
4. What happens when the internet drops?
Ask how the system behaves offline and how sales sync when the connection returns. Have the vendor show you, not just tell you.
5. Does it connect to your books?
Sales, purchases and payments should flow into accounting without re-typing. That one link removes most month-end stress.
6. Who supports you, and how?
Find out who you call when something goes wrong on a Saturday afternoon, and whether they answer on WhatsApp.
7. What does it really cost?
Compare the monthly fee, setup and training, extra users and hardware. A clear quote in writing beats a low headline price.
Next step: see how Master POS answers these questions, or book a demo and bring your own checklist.